A study of drinking ways has found that bars decorated
with street signs and other flavourings from "theme" nations have
lost their originality value and are being increasingly seen as tacky.
A team
from the market research company Mintel found that 100 theme bars - which
became popular in the mid-1990s and include chains such as Scruffy Murphy's,
Bar Oz, Finnegan's Wake and O'Neill's had closed or converted back to
traditional British Brighton pubs in the past year.
Pat
Aston, the senior leisure analyst at Mintel, said to The Telegraph: "The
big boom in
theme bars is over. They have lost their novelty value. More women are going to bars and there is a new trend towards minimalism or post-modern eclecticism, neither of which fits well with theming."
The
findings show that the influence of Britain's ageing population has also been
felt on the theme bars, which were designed to appeal to 20- to 24-year-olds -
a group that will decrease in size over the next decade.
So What Do The Public Make of Themed Pubs over Traditional Pubs in Brighton?
“Themed pubs should be banned!!” says
GrantJH from TripAdvisor.com “I don't understand why bars insist on being nation
themed, I mean I'm Australian and I've been traveling for 7yrs..... Every
country I go to always has English, Aussie or Irish pubs, they are the worst, and
this is no different! I liked the beers, but the food was terrible! I just wish
there had been something more original to the bars menu in regards to its
location, but again this is to be expected from themed bars like this! Ohh well
moving onto my next review.....”
Although separate bars with Irish or other national
themes have long existed in Britain, the big breweries began to operate them as
chains after Bass opened the first O'Neill's pub in Aberdeen. It was adorned to
look like a traditional Dublin pub, with hints of the Irish countryside.
Farming tools hung from the walls and the drinking area was divided into small sections
using timber walls.
Bringing Back Traditional - Themed Pubs Going out Of Style?
That trend is now being reversed and 35 O'Neill's pubs,
23 Scruffy Murphy's and 12 Finnegan's Wakes have been closed by their
respective breweries. The Mintel study predicted that another 150 theme bars
would closed by 2007.
Mr
Cartwright said Mitchells & Butlers had "debranded" all the
Scruffy Murphy's that it credited from Allied Domecq in 1999. "The King
and Keys was debranded last year and redecorated very sympathetically. It has
regained its original character."
The
landlord, Raymond Williams, 55, praised his "nice old pub", which had
a history dating back to the 16th century. He said: "I still serve people
who have fond memories of it back in the early '90s. Many have told me they are
very happy that the themed Irish bar has been banished."
One
King and Keys customer, Andrew Lester, 22, a tax consultant, said: "I
prefer it like this. It's a nicer pub."
So is
it more than just the older generation that are starting to dislike themed
pubs?
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